mcp-for-beginners

Name: mcp-for-beginners
Author: microsoft

Verified

This open-source curriculum introduces the fundamentals of Model Context Protocol (MCP) through real-world, cross-language examples in .NET, Java, TypeScript, JavaScript, Rust and Python. Designed for developers, it focuses on practical techniques for building modular, scalable, and secure AI workflows from session setup to service orchestration.

17,066stars

5,551forks

Jupyter Notebook

Installation

# Add to your Claude Code skills
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners

Getting Started

Guides for using mcp servers skills like mcp-for-beginners.

Security ReportVerified

Last scanned: 4/17/2026

{
  "issues": [],
  "status": "PASSED",
  "scannedAt": "2026-04-17T06:03:46.859Z",
  "semgrepRan": false,
  "npmAuditRan": true,
  "pipAuditRan": true
}

README.md

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mcp-for-beginners?

mcp-for-beginners is an open-source mcp servers skill for AI coding assistants such as Claude Code, Codex CLI, and ChatGPT, built by microsoft. This open-source curriculum introduces the fundamentals of Model Context Protocol (MCP) through real-world, cross-language examples in .NET, Java, TypeScript, JavaScript, Rust and Python. Designed for developers, it focuses on practical techniques for building modular, scalable, and secure AI workflows from session setup to service orchestration. It has 17,066 GitHub stars.

Is mcp-for-beginners safe to use?

Yes. mcp-for-beginners passed SkillsLLM's automated security scan — a dependency vulnerability audit plus prompt-injection heuristics — with no high-severity issues. You can read the full report in the Security Report section on this page.

How do I install mcp-for-beginners?

Clone the repository with "git clone https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners" and add it to your Claude Code skills directory (see the Installation section above).

What programming language is mcp-for-beginners written in?

mcp-for-beginners is primarily written in Jupyter Notebook. It is open-source under microsoft on GitHub, so you can review or fork the full source.

Are there alternatives to mcp-for-beginners?

Yes. SkillsLLM lists many other MCP Servers skills you can browse and compare side by side. Open the MCP Servers category from the badge at the top of this page, or use the Related Skills and comparison links further down to weigh mcp-for-beginners against similar tools.

MCP for Beginners

Build MCP servers that give AI assistants real capabilities

36 minBeginner

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⚠️ Third-Party Software Notice

This skill is third-party open-source software developed and hosted independently on GitHub. SkillsLLM is an informational directory and does not control or maintain the underlying repository.

Any security checks, ratings, or warnings displayed by SkillsLLM are automated and limited in scope. They do not constitute a security certification or guarantee that the software is safe, error-free, or free from malicious code, vulnerabilities, compromised dependencies, or prompt-injection risks.

Review the source code, permissions, dependencies, and configuration before installing or running any third-party skill. Use is at your own risk. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SkillsLLM is not liable for losses arising from third-party software.

Read the Terms of Service

MCP-for-beginners

Follow these steps to get started using these resources:

Fork the Repository: Click
Clone the Repository: git clone https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners.git
Join The

🌐 Multi-Language Support

Supported via GitHub Action (Automated & Always Up-to-Date)

Prefer to Clone Locally?

This repository includes 50+ language translations which significantly increases the download size. To clone without translations, use sparse checkout:

Bash / macOS / Linux:
git clone --filter=blob:none --sparse https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners.git
cd mcp-for-beginners
git sparse-checkout set --no-cone '/*' '!translations' '!translated_images'
CMD (Windows):
git clone --filter=blob:none --sparse https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners.git
cd mcp-for-beginners
git sparse-checkout set --no-cone "/*" "!translations" "!translated_images"
This gives you everything you need to complete the course with a much faster download.

🚀 Model Context Protocol (MCP) Curriculum for Beginners

Learn MCP with Hands-on Code Examples in C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Python, and TypeScript

🧠 Overview of the Model Context Protocol Curriculum

Welcome to your journey into the Model Context Protocol! If you've ever wondered how AI applications communicate with different tools and services, you're about to discover the elegant solution that's transforming how developers build intelligent systems.

Think of MCP as a universal translator for AI applications - just like how USB ports let you connect any device to your computer, MCP lets AI models connect to any tool or service in a standardized way. Whether you're building your first chatbot or working on complex AI workflows, understanding MCP will give you the power to create more capable and flexible applications.

This curriculum is designed with patience and care for your learning journey. We'll start with simple concepts you already understand and gradually build your expertise through hands-on practice in your favorite programming language. Every step includes clear explanations, practical examples, and plenty of encouragement along the way.

By the time you complete this journey, you'll have the confidence to build your own MCP servers, integrate them with popular AI platforms, and understand how this technology is reshaping the future of AI development. Let's begin this exciting adventure together!

Official Documentation and Specifications

This curriculum is aligned with MCP Specification 2025-11-25 (the latest stable release). The MCP specification uses date-based versioning (YYYY-MM-DD format) to ensure clear protocol version tracking.

Looking ahead: a release candidate for the next specification version, 2026-07-28, is scheduled to ship on July 28, 2026. It makes the protocol stateless at the transport layer, formalizes an Extensions framework (MCP Apps, Tasks), hardens authorization, and deprecates Roots, Sampling, and Logging. See What's Changing in MCP: The 2026-07-28 Release Candidate for a full breakdown.

These resources become more valuable as your understanding grows, but don't feel pressured to read everything immediately. Start with the areas that interest you most!

📘 MCP Documentation – This is your go-to resource for step-by-step tutorials and user guides. The documentation is written with beginners in mind, providing clear examples you can follow along with at your own pace.
📜 MCP Specification – Think of this as your comprehensive reference manual. As you work through the curriculum, you'll find yourself returning here to look up specific details and explore advanced features.
📜 MCP Specification Versioning – This contains information about protocol version history and how MCP uses date-based versioning (YYYY-MM-DD format).
🧑‍💻 MCP GitHub Repository – Here you'll find SDKs, tools, and code samples in multiple programming languages. It's like a treasure trove of practical examples and ready-to-use components.
🌐 MCP Community – Join fellow learners and experienced developers in discussions about MCP. It's a supportive community where questions are welcome and knowledge is shared freely.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this curriculum, you'll feel confident and excited about your new abilities. Here's what you'll achieve:

• Understand MCP fundamentals: You'll grasp what the Model Context Protocol is and why it's revolutionizing how AI applications work together, using analogies and examples that make sense.

• Build your first MCP server: You'll create a working MCP server in your preferred programming language, starting with simple examples and growing your skills step by step.

• Connect AI models to real tools: You'll learn how to bridge the gap between AI models and actual services, giving your applications powerful new capabilities.

• Implement security best practices: You'll understand how to keep your MCP implementations safe and secure, protecting both your applications and your users.

• Deploy with confidence: You'll know how to take your MCP projects from development to production, with practical deployment strategies that work in the real world.

• Join the MCP community: You'll become part of a growing community of developers who are shaping the future of AI application development.

Essential Background

Before we dive into MCP specifics, let